"Ok, we tried Waste management," Sweetie Belle said, counting off their attempts as the crusaders made their way back to the clubhouse. "We ended up collecting all the trash and letting it drop in the middle of the square. We tried pastry chefs and nearly killed gummy. We tried putting shingles on roofs only for them to fall off onto the crowd below. And finally something simple. Rock collecting. That's not even a thing, but somehow, we had managed to break a very important statue's nose off."
"Yeah, we really...really struck out today," Scootaloo said. "But this is only our first day! I'm sure we'll get our cutie marks soon."
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom cheered. "It's not that hard to get a cutie mark! We'll find somethin'!"
They continued on the trek until it was nearly time for dinner. Apple Bloom invited them over but Scootaloo had to respectfully decline. Rainbow would want her back soon, and she was actually desperate to get home.
They all waved to each other, saying they'll see each other at school tomorrow. Hopefully, Rainbow was home. She really wanted more of that cake!
The guards opened the gates for her as she made her way onto the cloud castle on the ground where a Rainbow colored chariot sat. She continued her trek through the buildings, finally arriving at the large residential building where the guards opened the doors for her.
The filly walked in, seeing a large group of ponies standing in the foyer.
"Hey, Scootaloo," Fluttershy greeted as she walked over and pulled the girl into a hug. Rainbow smiled before she too trotted over.
"How was your day?" Fluttershy asked her.
"It was great!" She replied excitedly. "Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and I went searching for our cutie marks!" She yelped as Rainbow pulled her into a giant hug.
"Ooooo, I missed yooou!" Rainbow cooed before pulling back and looking her over. "Are you okay? I felt you got into some issues today."
"Well...." The filly stammered. "Rarity's not going to like how her shop looks, and Gummy passed out with his eyes open."
"What?" Rainbow said, placing the girl back on the ground. "You tried cooking? And designing for your cutie marks?"
"Yep! I mean...it didn't exactly work, but we had gotten somewhere, right?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow before chuckling and messing with the filly's mane.
"I guess so," she replied. "Let's go, I know you want some cake."
"Can I have some?!" She asked excitedly. The princess placed the filly on her back before heading towards the dining hall.
"We'll both have some. Everyone this is Scootaloo," Rainbow introduced to the others watching from the side. "Scootaloo? This is my Advisory Committee. They'll​ be regular faces around the castle from now on. You're all dismissed until I send for you."
"Yes, your highness," they all said before walking away.
"Where are you staying, Cherry?" Twilight asked as they made their way off the property.
"Ummm....since this whole thing was kind of last notice," the mare said nervously. "I...um...actually have nowhere to go. So I was just going to head back to Canterlot and then come back in the morning."
The librarian clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Nope, that's murder on your bits. You need some place to stay, you can stay with me."
"What?" Cherry asked, unsure. "I don't wanna impose..." They walked into the square and turned towards the library.
"You're not imposing, silly pony. I'm offering!" Twilight clarified before they stopped in front of the tree. "I want you to stay with me!"
Twilight opened the door, revealing the interior. There were a bunch of books on different subjects and a table where there was currently a purple baby dragon sitting and reading a comic book.
"I'm back, Spike!" She yelled, making the dragon jump and look up. "This is Cherry Berry. She'll be staying with us for awhile." Spike smirked and raised an eyebrow at the librarian.
"Hello, Cherry! I'm Spike, Twilight's number one assistant!" He greeted her.
"Hello, Spike," she greeted back as she looked around the library. "So what's your relationship like with Twilight?"
"My whole life. She hatched me, actually," the dragon said, walking towards her. "So I've been around for awhile."
"Oh, so like her son."
"Oh no, not at all!" Twilight said frantically from the kitchen. "More like my charge."
"Yep! No son here, uh-uh, nope!" The baby dragon said, waving his claws around and shaking his head.
"Okay okay!" Cherry Berry said chuckling and raising her hooves. "You're her charge."
"Are you hungry?" Twilight called out. "I have some soup!"
"Yes, please!" The mare walked into the kitchen, finding the area quite nice. There was a table, a sink, a refrigerator, stove, cabinets, and a pantry. Simple.
"I know it's not much, and you're probably much more used to the high life," Twilight said as she brought the bowls of soup to the table. "But I'm afraid we'll have to get more groceries."
"It's alright," Cherry said, taking a seat. "I'm not actually used to the high life, I just deal with it."
"So what do you really prefer?"
"Eh, anything small. So maybe like a sandwich or fruit. I don't usually go for those expensive meals that everyone in Canterlot is crazy for. I'll even settle down for spaghetti."
"Oh, I love Spaghetti!" Twilight said, giggling. "I like mines with peppers."
"Me too! And a little jalapeno cheese, that really does me in." The two mares laughed before going back to their meal, where Cherry brought up another topic. "So Princess Dash seems really attached to that filly."
"Scootaloo, yeah. They actually only met yesterday, but Rainbow is taking a liking to her."
"How'd they meet?" Both Twilight and Spike from the other room seethed through their teeth, not really wanting to go back down that road. "What? What happened?"
"Wellllll...okay," Twilight got into a position to tell the story. "On the way to the party after Dash's coronation, Applejack and Rarity, two of our friends, were chasing Scootaloo for stealing."
"Stealing?"
"Yeah. So Dash came in like what's going on? Applejack said that she was stealing. Dash was like why are you stealing? Scootaloo said that she had to. Rainbow was like where are your parents? Rarity and Applejack asked the same question and the poor girl just broke into tears."
"I'm afraid to ask, but...where were they?"
"Deceased," Twilight said sadly. "There's a forest over here-" Twilight pointed behind her. "-that nopony ever goes into. It's extremely dangerous. Full of monsters and weird plants. That's where the Royal Sisters used to have their castle until it got destroyed. Well, story is Scootaloo's parents were trying to save her from a pack of Timberwolves. That scar on her cheek is from one of them.
"They helped her escape and held back the wolves until Scootaloo was safely out, but they didn't make it out themselves. The only thing Scootaloo has left to remind her of them are those necklaces wrapped around her hoof."
"So...she's an orphan," Cherry said sadly.
"Yeah, but apparently, she has no family that can take her in. So Rainbow did. She's not her daughter, the princess is just taking her under her wing. But I have a pretty good feeling Rainbow's going to adopt her. That's what it looks like so far."
"Are you hoping Rainbow gets her?" Cherry asked uncertainly.
"Yeah, of course! Rainbow has a deep feeling for her. Even Celestia and Luna could tell. I'm sure Rainbow will ask her next month during the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala. It seems more likely and more 'Rainbow Dash' than anything else." The two mares chuckled again before going back to their soup.
The Cerulean alicorn got up the next morning and shook her head, unaware of the little filly sitting on top.
"WHOA!" Rainbow looked to the side to see Scootaloo sliding across the floor on her stomach, making her raise an eyebrow.
"Were you...sleeping on my head?" She asked chuckling.
"Rainbow....come back to sleep, it's not time to get up yet," Fluttershy mumbled, turning over in the bed. She grabbed the princess forcefully and threw her back down unto the pillow.
"Oh my god, when'd you get so strong, flutters?" Rainbow cried out.
"Shut up and go to sleep," the animal lover replied, tiredly.
"Flutters, I have to get up, let me go." Scootaloo just looked at the scene smiling. "Come on!" Soon, Fluttershy fell back to sleep, allowing Rainbow to sprint out of the bed. "That was....exhausting. I have to take a bath, jeez." Scootaloo chuckled before she left the room, allowing Rainbow to take a shower. After closing the door, she was greeted by the last pony she'd ever expect.
"Hello, Scootaloo," Princess Celestia said to her.
"Ah! Princess!" The little filly bowed to the tall Alicorn just standing casually outside the door.
"There's no need for that Scootaloo," the princess said chuckling, watching the filly stand. "I'm just here to see Rainbow. Is she up?"
"She had to struggle. Fluttershy wouldn't let her wake up." Celestia raised an eyebrow.
"Are Fluttershy and my...Rainbow Dash sleeping together?"
"Yeah," Scootaloo said confusedly. "You didn't know?"
"No. No I did not." Celestia stepped forward and quietly cracked the door open, spotting fluttershy about to fall out of the bed. The princess grinned, thinking about all the fun she was going to have with this. "Dash has a lot to tell me."
The princess of nature walked down the stairs that led up to her room, just now noticing the other doors in the building that she has never been in before. She cocked her head to the side, how long have they been there. She shrugged, figuring she should check them out. Going to the nearest one, she opened it, reveling an office of some sort. Small, not like Celestia's. So it couldn't be hers.
Closing the door, she went to the one next to it. Looking inside, it looked just like the other on. down to the chair and everything. She closed the door before turning around to look at the ones across from them. They all looked alike. Nothing different at all. "These must be for the advisers," Rainbow thought out loud.
"That's right." The princess jumped and lit her horn, preparing for a fight with...her mother?!
"Mo-....Celestia?! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I came by to give you a little something." Celestia lifted her wing, showing an envelope with Rainbow's name on it. She levitated it over to her daughter, watching as she opened it with her magic. Rainbow lifted out eight tickets....to the Grand Galloping Gala.
"Celestia...do I really have time for a dance?" Rainbow asked. "I barely even began anything yet."
"Well this is where you start," the princess. "Each year, most important ponies come to the grand galloping gala to talk. If you come to the grand galloping gala, those ponies can speak with you about the issues that plague your society. The tickets are for your friends and Scootaloo. Your advisers are required to attend to assist you with anything."
Scootaloo peeked around the corner, watching the two princesses while they spoke. Fluttershy was still surprisingly in bed. What's up with that? Even when Scootaloo was down in Ponyville, she was known to always wake up early. She watched as the two princess chatted idly.
"So what do you think about 'the squirt'?" Celestia asked her.
"Well I know we just met...literally. But....I feel a connection to her," Dash explained. "I see a lot of myself in her. Rebellious but careful at the same time. I have goals that I'm trying to set, while trying to maintain my image. I guess that's what she's trying to do with her cutie mark. Didn't we already have this conversation?" Rainbow gasped suddenly. "Speaking of which, she has School! SCOOTALOO!" The filly backed up a little bit before coming out of her hiding spot.
"I know, I know, I have school," she complained. "But I don't wanna go!"
The two royals chuckled before Rainbow levitated the filly onto her back. "Well all little princesses have to go to school," she said making her way back up the stairs. "We have to get your teeth brushed and your coat cleaned. You're been lying on my head all night and I know you're dirty. No buts!"
"I'll be on my way now, Rainbow!" Celestia called to her, making her way to the door. "I shall see you later!"
"Ok, Celestia!" The princess of the sun walked out the doors, leaving dash to wash her surrogate daughter.
"Uggghhhh," Scootaloo groaned from the top of Princess' back. "Why, why, why?"
"Stop having a tantrum," Rainbow said, ignoring Sweetie Drops' chuckling. Since there wasn't a heavy amount of traffic in the town, it was only her. "School is not that bad, Scoots."
"Tell that to Diamond Tiara," the filly retorted as they walked past Sweet Apple Acres. "She always make fun of me and the others. Her father was the one that padlocked my home by making the rent payment come before the end of the month, which was basically the next day. I was OUTSIDE the next day!"
"Wait, what?" Rainbow asked, stopping in front of the bridge leading into the town. Sweetie Drops also looked a little upset. "Diamond Tiara's father, Filthy Rich, had you put out?"
"Yep. The day before he came knocking on my door, screaming for us to open it." Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows before she continued her walk towards the schoolhouse.
"I'll talk to this stallion who put a filly out of their home. What about Diamond Tiara?" They walked through town where multiple ponies began bowing to her.
"Diamond Tiara is so stuck up. Sometimes, I just wanna buck her into a tree like WHAM! But then I would get in trouble. So I take her food instead during lunch and throw it where she'll never find it."
"That's not nice," Rainbow said, although she couldn't help but chuckle. "Next time she's being mean to you or your friends, tell the teacher, alright?"
"Ok," Scootaloo groaned. Soon, they arrived at the school. It hadn't started yet, so the kids were just playing outside.
"Hey, Scootaloo!" The group looked over to the right to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle trotting forward. Rarity's sister suddenly gasped and bowed before Apple Bloom did the same, making Rainbow groan and roll her eyes.
"You can rise now, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. I'm friends with your sisters. You're technically family." While they rose, Rainbow bent down so Scootaloo can get off her back to greet her friends.
"Will you be picking me up?" Scootaloo asked her guardian.
"Unless you have something planned I'll be here, Squirt," she replied, ruffling the filly's mane. She lifted her wing and pulled out the bagged lunch, levitating it over to the filly. "Just make sure you let Ms. Cherilee know if you do. She'll send me a letter. Now I have to go setup a meeting with a certain parent about a certain sudden eviction that was not given for thirty days, but one instead. Have a good day at school."
"Ok! By, mom!" Rainbow's eyes widened before they relaxed, watching as Scootaloo went into the school with the other children. She smiled, thinking about that title.
"See ya' this afternoon, Scoots!" Rainbow called out. Once all the students were inside she and Sweetie Drops turned around, walking back into town.
"How do you feel about that?" The agent asked, already knowing what's on Dash's mind. "I'm guessing surprised."
"Yeah, I'm both actually," Rainbow said. "Let's stop at Twilight's for a second. I need to talk to her about this." They went down a different street while Rainbow continued talking. "I'm surprised that she called me mom on her own. She did before, before we went to Canterlot yesterday. But now, I feel like she did it on purpose. Does she possibly....see me as her mother?"
"Maybe," Sweetie drops said, looking down at one of the bowing ponies. The streets were beginning to get a little busy now. "I mean, you're the only one that actually took her in. It's totally understandable if she does see you as a mother figure."
"Yeah, you're right." The Princess knocked on the wooden door, waiting for it to open. A second later, Spike answered it, looking very unamused.
"Rainbow? This is a public library. Keyword public. The opening times are on the door, see?" The reptile pointed to the door, showing a sign with the opening times on it.
"Oh hush, Dragon," Rainbow said as she and Sweetie Drops walked inside. "Is Twilight in?"
"In here!" The two turned towards the left, seeing Twilight and Cherry Berry sitting at the kitchen table.
"Your highness!" Cherry flew out of her chair and planted her muzzle to the ground. Rainbow groaned before getting an idea.
"Hold on, I wanna try this. Rise, my little pony." Cherry got up off the ground while everyone else just shook their head at the princess. "Oh yeah, that felt good. Good morning, Twilight." She walked towards the end of the table and sat down facing both of the mares while Sweetie Drops stood at the doorway.
"Morning, Rainbow," she replied, taking another bite out of her sandwich, noticing Rainbow's confused facial expression. "There's something wrong with you, what is it?"
Rainbow took a deep breath and sighed. "It's about Scootaloo." The two mares at the table turned to her, giving her their full attention. "I took her to school this morning since I knew she didn't wanna go back. Oh, by the way, mom gave me some Grand Galloping Gala tickets." Rainbow lifted her wing and levitated out an envelope. Reaching in she pulled out one for Twilight and handed it to her.
"Oh! Grand Galloping Gala?" Twilight squealed.
"How'd your mom afford a whole envelope of tickets? Is she rich?" Cherry Berry asked.
"Uhhhh she knows ponies," Twilight quickly covered up.
"Yes, now back to the story." Rainbow cleared her throat. "I took her to the school and dropped her off. I told her to have a good day. But before she went inside, she returned with 'Okay, bye mom.'"
"Awwww," Twilight fawned, setting down the ticket.
"No! No 'Awwww'! There should be a 'oooohhhhh.' Come on Twilight! What am I supposed to do about this?" Rainbow planted her chin on the table. "If she really thinks of me as her mother, then what do I do? I mean, I can't just follow through with that unless I'm absolutely sure I want to be a mom!"
"Rainbow, I'm gonna ask you an important question," Cherry Berry said. "Do you want to be her mother?" Rainbow looked up at her adviser before sitting up straight.
"I.....I don't know. Yeah I have feelings for the kid, but I don't know about being her mother. If I don't, I don't wanna hurt her feelings."
"I see," Twilight said. "Well maybe you should ask a parent. I mean, it can't be that hard to make a decision on whether or not you want a child, right? Sometimes ponies just go out and do it."
"Yeah, but what if i go out, do it and it's not what I really wanted? What both of us really wanted?"
"Are you saying you're not a good mother?" Sweetie Drops asked from the doorway. "'Cuz out of what I've seen you're amazing with Scootaloo. And I've seen a lot." The agent pointed to her scarred eye.
"I agree," Twilight inputted. "To be honest, I think you're amazing with Scootaloo. The princesses would think the same. Hey Spike! Ask Celestia if Rainbow's amazing with Scootaloo!"
"On it!"
"Trust me, Rainbow," Cherry said, placing her hoof on Rainbow's arm. I'm pretty sure everything will be okay. Ask some people who actually see you with Scootaloo. Like....I don't know, the dignitaries from Saddle Arabia. I'm positive they'll say the same thing. They were there when you first met Scootaloo, when you picked her up."
"Yeah, I guess so. If I take on this role, I don't wanna be a bad mother. I wanna be the one she looks up to, not the one she fears. If I mess up, then I fail. And I NEVER fail!"
"Then you won't fail," Twilight said. A sudden belch in the next room got their attention before Spike came walking into the kitchen holding a scroll which he handed to Twilight.
She unwrapped it quickly before clearing her throat. "Hello, Rainbow Dash. I have heard that you are doubting yourself in becoming a wonderful mother. From what me and Luna have seen, you will be absolutely amazing. Never doubt yourself, because you have proven yourself more than once. You will be wonderful and Scootaloo will love you LIKE a mother. Your-" Twilight coughed, trying to cover up the word. "Celestia."
"See?" Cherry said, slapping Rainbow's hoof. "You'll be fine. You will not mess up, because you're Rainbow Dash."
"The one who never fails," Twilight finished.
"And always finds a way," Sweetie Drops said. Rainbow thought for a moment before she let out a huff.
"Fine," she admitted. "I'll THINK on the subject and possibility of adoption, but that's it. I wanna get Fluttershy's opinion on this since she'll be living with us."
"Oh, yeah! How is Fluttershy?" Cherry asked. "Is she out and about?"
"She was still in the bed when I left. I hope she's up now. I have to go to the castle and check. It's making me a little worried since she never sleeps in." She stood up and stretched before making her way to the door. "Thanks for the advice, ladies. I'll see you two when I need you."
"Alright, see ya'!" Twilight yelled after her.